Time Will Tell (Maybe #3)(36)

Summer gives me a gentle look. “You two seem happy.”

“We are,” Xander replies quietly, his eyes on me and a smile on his mouth.

“Dad would have liked her,” Summer adds, smiling sadly and wringing her hands.

I watch Xander for his reaction. His eyes turn pained for a second, but then he squeezes my hand. “He definitely would have.”

I look down. “I hope so.”

I know my dad would have liked Xander, too. Well, as much as a father can like a man who’s sleeping with his baby girl.

“I hope we can spend some time together before you leave, Trillian,” Summer says. “Get my number from Xander. You can call me anytime, okay?”

That was really sweet.

“Thanks,” I reply. “I’d like that.”

She smiles at me then looks at her watch. “Shoot, I have to get going. I’ll see the two of you tonight, though.”

We say our goodbyes, and Xander and I walk her out. When the door closes, he turns to me and touches my chin with his fingers. “You okay?”

I nod. “She’s lovely.”

He smiles fondly. “She is something, that’s for sure. Do you want to hang out a bit or go straight to the shop?”

I open my mouth to answer, but there’s a knock at the door.

“Summer must have forgotten something,” he murmurs, opening the door. But it isn’t Summer. It’s a pretty little blonde staring up at Xander with a smile on her face.

“Heard you were back. Sick of life in the country?” she asks, stepping over the threshold. She turns her head and finally sees me standing there.

“Oh, hi,” she says, tucking her hair behind her ear.

I look at Xander, who clears his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Trillian, this is Persephone, a friend of mine. Sephie, this is Trill.”

Sephie? He’s never mentioned her before. But they’ve been together at some point. I know it. I can tell by their body language. And the way Xander is acting confirms it. The air between the three of us thickens to the point where I take a step back.

“Nice to meet you, Persephone,” I finally say.

She smiles at me then looks up at Xander. “Sorry, I didn’t know you had company.”

“Trill’s staying with me for a week,” he says, staring at her pointedly.

This is getting awkward.

Well, even more awkward.

“Should we go into the lounge room?” I ask, looking between the two of them. I begin to walk past Xander, who pulls me against his body.

“Oh, um, actually, I think I might get going,” Persephone says after Xander flashes her a look.

“Will we see you out tonight?” he asks, running his fingers up my spine.

She glances at me before replying. “Not sure. Maybe. Was nice meeting you, Trillian.”

“Bye, Sephie,” Xander says, closing the door as she leaves.

I turn and walk into the kitchen, pulling out a drink from the fridge just to give me something to do.

“She’s Reid and Ryan’s sister,” he says suddenly.

I close the fridge and stare him down. “And an ex of yours?”

He licks his lips, looking away. “We’ve been together in the past, yes.”

“And why did she come here today? What would have happened if I wasn’t here?”

Would he have slept with her? And I would be back in Channon without a clue. The thought occurs to me. “Did you sleep with her last time you were here?”

Xander walks over to me and cups my face in his hands. “I haven’t touched another woman since Paula or whatever her name was that night. And I didn’t even kiss her! I wouldn’t cheat on you, Trillian. I’m many things, but disloyal isn’t one of them.”

I exhale slowly. “So if I weren’t here, what would you have done? And be honest.”

“I would have spoken with her. We’re friends at the end of the day. Then she would have left. I wouldn’t have touched her in any way,” he tells me, eyes gazing into mine. “I promise you, Trill.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“So are you. More so. And you’re mine, so that makes you everything to me.”

“Why didn’t you want her to come inside? It made it feel like you were hiding something from me,” I say quietly.

He looks away. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Trillian. It was awkward for me. I knew it would upset you. Fuck, I saw that guy you’d slept with and I wanted to kill him. You’ve already had to deal with that other woman, now I didn’t want you to have to deal with Sephie as well.”

Just how close is he with her?

Am I overthinking this?

“Okay?” he asks, kissing my brow.

I sigh. “Okay.”

I said that I trusted him. Now I need to prove it. To myself.

*****

Knox’s Tavern is completely packed. I meet Reid, Summer’s husband, Tag, Dash, and Ryan and his wife Taiya. They all seem so nice, and I can tell they are all really close. Xander has a great group of friends. Persephone is absent. I watch Xander interact with his friends, laughing and joking. He always makes sure to include me in conversations, or ask if I’m okay or if I need anything. He’s very attentive, and I appreciate that.